Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 75

Tales of a Wandering Swordsman – 74

Meanwhile, Mountain Monarch was strolling around the lively village with his hands behind his back.

The journey from Geumgang to Hansan took only a day.

Thanks to utilizing the Giryeong Tea, traversing the difference in land size compared to Bangok was instantaneous.

Hansan, befitting its reputation as Goseon’s capital, appeared quite peaceful.

It was pleasant to see children with braided hair running around, full of life.

‘Once this matter is settled, should I visit Mount Baek again?’

It would be the time when Mount Baek’s spiritual energy has returned and is in harmony.

After enduring the Cheonsu Ilgigeop [a trial or tribulation] and ascending to Yeongmyeong [a higher state of being], cultivating there wouldn’t be bad.

“Eunja-nim [respected hermit], what will you do now?”

Ryoon asked on her behalf.

The fact that the central axis of the sorcery was Hansan was mentioned in the novel.

However, Mountain Monarch didn’t know exactly where it was. Therefore, it would be beneficial to split up and search from now on.

Mountain Monarch said so and took out three golden cocoons from his chest.

As he flicked his fingers, the cocoons unraveled, and eerie-spirited Gwidong [ghost servants] appeared.

It was the Samcheok Gwidongma [three-eyed ghost servants] he had previously seized.

“I didn’t know you were also skilled in Gangsa Sorcery [necromantic sorcery].”

“I just… had a connection.”

He transformed the Samcheok Gwidongma into hawks and sent them flying. They would become Mountain Monarch’s eyes and ears, making it easier to find them.

“Then let’s gather here again when the sun sets.”

After they left, he summoned Tamhwa Ogong [a type of earth spirit] and had it burrow into the ground.

“This should be enough.”

He muttered and sat cross-legged.

It was to practice the Gyeol [hand seals/techniques] of the Hoicheongakgo [a rare artifact or technique] he had obtained this time.

A technique to manipulate the horns actively.

The Hoicheongakgo, which contained it, was indeed quite novel even in Mountain Monarch’s eyes.

It was astonishing how it allowed one to create blood points by sending spiritual energy to the horns and use them as a medium to perform divine feats.

-Mountain Monarch.

Mountain Monarch’s eyes opened as he cultivated, unaware of the passage of time.

Before him, a man in beggar’s clothes was smiling brightly.

The youth was wearing tattered clothes and had a staff tucked under his arm.

Mountain Monarch stared blankly at him.

It was such an unexpected situation that Mountain Monarch, who had been넋 놓고 [mesmerized/distracted], reached into his chest.

Soon, he took out a few coins and threw them.

Thud!

As the heavy weight entered the gourd, the beggar’s lips curved into a wide smile.

“Oh my! Thank you, young master!”

Mountain Monarch, watching him bow, smiled and said.

“Indeed. But what is a Taoist doing in this place?”

Then, the smile on the beggar’s face faltered.

“Haha, a Taoist? I am just a beggar named Jangcheon.”

“Is that so?”

“Look at my appearance. How could a Taoist be in such a state?”

Mountain Monarch smiled back at the smiling beggar.

“Is that so.”

“Oh dear, if the Taoist hears that, I’ll be punished by heaven!”

Mountain Monarch laughed heartily and flicked his fingers.

Then, golden light flashed from the ground.

Piing!

The beggar flinched and twisted his body.

Soon, he skillfully spun the staff in his hand and deflected the golden light.

Ting!

As the golden light disappeared, a strand of golden thread revealed itself.

It was Tamhwa Ogong’s Geumjangsa [golden silk thread attack].

“Are you still an ordinary beggar even now?”

The beggar with tattered clothes turned the staff behind his back and showed a bitter face. He looked as if he didn’t expect to be caught so easily.

“Haha……”

The man scratched the back of his neck as if embarrassed.

Mountain Monarch looked at him with shining eyes.

“I’m curious about the reason you came to find me.”

He is not a Youngsoo [member of the Four Great Clans].

Although he is hiding his energy, it doesn’t work on him, who has mastered Hangbosaingeom [a sword technique] and Bunhapsugyeol [a breathing technique] and possesses a strong Sinshik [spiritual sense].

‘Hwanseon [ascended immortal].’

The first human Taoist he has seen in Goseon.

If he is not a Taoist from another place, then a Hwanseon in Goseon is obvious.

“There’s no special intention. I just came to see the Taoists who came to Hansan.”

“Is that so? I thought you had other business since you came without even wearing a mask.”

The man’s expression hardened at the word ‘mask.’ It only takes a little thought to understand why he is dressed as a beggar.

The Tal [Masks] are a group of Taoists who monitor the Four Great Clans and protect Goseon.

They are skilled at concealing their identities.

Spread throughout Goseon, they often lurk as beggars or simple passersby.

They are different from the Taoists of Bangok.

The purpose of their power is to protect this land from foreign forces.

So, of course, they would have noticed the tricks that the Demonic Path is playing long ago.

‘They must be waiting for the decision of Hwanmang [the leader of the Tal].’

Thanks to that, things have become easier.

It will be much easier to get information about them from them.

“I came here to eradicate the roots of the Demonic Path. It is also to find the Blood Collapse Water that Sawaolang was deprived of.”

The man narrowed his eyes silently.

He seemed to be conflicted.

Whether to reveal his identity or not.

That’s why he tried to ease it.

There’s no good in being at odds with him.

“I am Daeho, the Eunja of Sawaolang.”

“Daeho? Are you perhaps the one who devastated the Ilwolmun [Sun Moon Sect] of Bangok?”

“……”

One thing he overlooked.

Their information network is quite extensive.

‘Oh dear….’

* * *

Meanwhile.

Geummyeong Jisu was wandering around Hansan. This place is a country of ordinary people, so she was disguised as a mandarin duck.

She flew around for a while and floated on a pond near a gazebo.

‘I don’t see anything particularly suspicious.’

She looked around, but she couldn’t see anything special.

Of course, the guys aren’t stupid either, so they wouldn’t do anything noticeable.

As she was pondering while floating in the water, she heard the voices of women.

“Boksoon-ah, I can’t stay here anymore….”

One of the palace maids seemed to be complaining.

“It’s so scary…. When will those young ladies….”

“What if someone hears you! Be quiet! Didn’t Kim Sang-gung [a high-ranking palace maid] tell you, always be careful what you say because there are always eyes and ears!”

Then, a palace maid named Boksoon scolded her.

“Ha, but you saw it too! Those baby young ladies are so……!”

Here, ‘young ladies’ must refer to the children who are being taught to become palace maids.

Intrigued, she went closer.

The palace maids were cleaning the gazebo and chatting, but their expressions were not good.

“But….”

“Stop it! We just need to be careful! What we see, we didn’t see, and what we hear, we didn’t hear!”

A palace maid named Boksoon scolded her and moved her feet.

She had a disgusted expression.

However, the pupils of her eyes, which were turning away, were shaking violently.

‘There must be something!’

Sniff sniff.

She didn’t notice because of the smell of water, but when she smelled it closely, she could smell blood.

However, she cannot jump to conclusions.

Even among ordinary people, secret plots are commonplace, and they are also ruthless in harming each other.

‘But right now….’

She can’t miss even the smallest clue.

‘If I find a clue, that guy’s nose will be broken a little.’

When she smiled inwardly.

A sparrow flew in.

-Ryoon?

-Yes. Have you found anything?

-No, I don’t have anything like that, but I’m a little suspicious….

At that time.

“What are you doing! My friend has disappeared!”

A man’s loud voice was heard.

She and Ryoon faced each other and flapped their wings.

Soon, they flew up and landed on the eaves, and the sight of men arguing was revealed in their sight.

“Let go! My friend disappeared overnight, how can you not let me find her!”

“Hey! There was an order not to let anyone in, so that’s why we’re doing this! Go back!”

People in the palace gathered.

The man’s voice grew louder, and those who were trying to stop him looked embarrassed.

However, Geummyeong Jisu narrowed her eyes.

Neither the one shouting nor the one stopping him is an ordinary person. She, who is sensitive to smells, felt the smell of blood from them.

-Princess.

-Yes. What do you think?

-It seems worth watching. One feels cold, and the other two smell bad, so I think they are definitely Masas [followers of the Demonic Path].

That’s right.

Besides, the most fun thing is watching a fight, so it wouldn’t be bad to watch for a while.

It was then.

“Geez! I told you not to let anyone in here!”

The moment the person presumed to be a Masa tried to push the man away.

Ts즈즈즛!!

The temperature around them dropped in an instant.

The floor froze, and thick frost formed on the surrounding buildings!

He must be a Taoist from the Ice Palace.

“Mommy!!”

One of the palace maids screamed in surprise as the man was covered in frost.

“If you don’t want to get hurt, get out of the way! I know that my friend is here! She has a spirit tablet with a tracking spell on it, how could I not know!”

As he shouted, the expressions of the men who were dealing with him also changed like ice.

Looking at the onlookers, the ordinary people were startled and disappeared at the eerie sight.

Soon, when they made eye contact and tried to pull out the swords from their waists.

[Let him in.]

A woman’s voice with a smile echoed softly.

“……Go in.”

Then the men changed their expressions and opened the door.

They changed their behavior as if it were a lie that they were exuding murderous intent as if they were about to fight at any moment.

“……You should have done this sooner.”

The man from the Ice Palace was also bewildered and muttered and went inside.

-Ryoon. Tell Eunja-nim about this. These guys are acting suspicious.

-Yes, ma’am!

She, who was watching Ryoon flapping her wings and flying away, flashed her eyes.

It was because there was someone who had been watching her since earlier.

[I was wondering where the musty smell was coming from.]

The one who spoke to her was a snake.

It was a serpent that had somehow approached and wrapped its long body around the eaves as if it were its own home.

Then, Geummyeong Jisu also transformed into a human and revealed her teeth.

“Even if they are Demonic Path guys, they couldn’t have been able to freely live in every corner of Goseon. So you guys were involved?”

[Involved? I don’t know what you’re talking about. We just provided convenience because our friend was arriving in Goseon.]

Geummyeong Jisu wore a sneer at the guy’s feigned ignorance.

The guy is a Young Clan [member of the Four Great Clans] in charge of the West.

Jimosha (智暮蛇) [Serpent of Twilight Wisdom].

Munon.

“Then why did you come to find me?”

[Didn’t I say it? I came to see you because I smelled musty.]

He was openly provoking her, so she seemed to know the guy’s intentions roughly.

“Is it okay? Munon. There are many ordinary people here.”

The Four Great Clans must not affect the human world due to the oath.

If she and the guy were to fight, it is obvious that this area would be swept away, so she is asking.

However, Munon licked his tongue and gave a bitter smile.

[Ordinary people? I don’t know what you’re talking about at all. In my eyes, they just look like dead lumps of meat.]

That answer made it clear.

Geummyeong Jisu smiled, revealing her teeth.

Tatatatatatat!

The roof tiles on the eaves made a rattling sound and floated up. Cracks began to spread.

Then Munon also raised his energy. The murderous intent towards each other collided in the air, creating a strange whirlwind.

The roof tiles that flew far away fell to the floor with a clanging sound.

“What did you receive that you are protecting those guys?”

[Isn’t it obvious?]

Manes grew on the guy’s body, and the eyes that were wrapped around his forehead opened and flashed.

[It’s to turn the oath into nothing (無).]

Foolish Imoogi [lesser dragon/serpent spirit].

She chewed on it and ran out.

The human form is erased.

Two legs into four legs.

Silver fur covers it into a wolf.

The silver shines in the sunlight and is dyed gold, revealing the name of Geummyeong.

And after that.

A huge roar spread from the palace.